ONE of Sandbach's longest-serving councillors has launched a scathing attack on his counterparts, branding them 'muppets' only interested in publicity.

Cllr Jack Iddon has vowed to never stand for re-election once his current term runs out. He claims the role is a thankless task and that many councillors just simply want to be in the limelight.

Cllr Iddon pointed the finger at Sandbach Town Council members Cllr Patrick Darnes and Cllr Elsie Alcock.

A bitter feud between the trio erupted last month when Tory Cllr Iddon spoke out against the scheme for a dedicated Sandbach policeman, spearheaded by Lib Dem Cllr Alcock.

The #62,000 plan was voted out and Cllr Alcock claimed she had been betrayed after two years of hard work.

Now Cllr Iddon, who serves Sandbach at borough and town council level, has spoken out. He said: 'Questions are asked for effect in council.

'Take Cllrs Patrick Darnes and Elsie Alcock. Do they want some action and things to get done? Or do they just want to get in the newspapers?

'They are not interested in action. They just want publicity. That's not what local government is about. Frankly I can't believe people elect muppets like these.'

Cllr Iddon, who serves the Sandbach West ward and is Congleton Borough Council's portfolio holder for economic development, has been a councillor for around 10 years.

A former chairman of the town council, the 61-year-old has recently been cleared of bringing the borough council into disrepute over an unpaid #3,000 Poll Tax bill.

A year long investigation by the Standards Board of England was launched after he was accused of bringing the authority into disrepute by two other councillors.

Despite being cleared, the indignity of the probe appears to have prompted Cllr Iddon's decision to end his political career.

Cllr Iddon said: 'I will serve this term out and represent the people of Sandbach West, but next year will be my last. I have had enough of all the muck that gets thrown around. Why should anyone be subjected to this?'

Cllrs Darnes and Alcock have now called for Cllr Iddon to resign.

In a joint statement, they said: 'This is not the kind of language and behaviour that is expected from a councillor and a member of the executive of Congleton Borough Council.

'This is not the first time that Cllr Iddon has made defamatory remarks in public about other councillors. We question his fitness for being a councillor and call upon him to resign from Congleton Borough Council forthwith.'